When you hang around this media business long enough you learn a little bit about how things work.

For instance, you come to understand that sometimes when there’s smoke, there’s fire. And sometimes there’s just smoke. But if there’s no fire, why is their smoke? Sometimes it’s because somebody is trying to start a fire.

And here’s another thing you learn from hanging around the world of fun and games: there’s only one group of people on the face of the earth that like to gossip more than scouts, no matter the sport. They’re topped only by coaches, no matter the sport. If you think the ladies in the neighborhood canasta tournament can tell stories, you’ve never seen scouts and coaches in action.

I got that feeling that both of those truisms have come together in the last 24 hours as the pro football blogosphere lit up with a couple of Chiefs items. The blasts involved Scott Pioli and his 2009 Draft class.

First, understand that Pioli does not seek attention. In fact, he’s just the opposite; he runs the other way. He’d be very happy never having to deal with a reporter’s question. In his past, dealing with the media was not really part of his job description; Bill Belichick was around to handle all of that. That’s why way back on the day he was announced as GM, Pioli said he would not be the face of the franchise.

The desire to stay away from attention doesn’t mean attention stays away. Not in today’s world, where rumor is considered news, no matter how much investigation actually goes into fleshing out the facts.

Let me hit you with what popped up on the blogs.

On the website nationalfootballpost came this from columnist Michael Lombardi on Sunday:

Based on my conversations, the Kansas City Chiefs’ draft has many league executives curious – not about the quality of the draft, as that will take some time to determine, but about the character element, a signature and requirement of the building of the New England Patriots. The fact that the Chiefs selected some players with off-the-field issues has executives asking me, “How does character fit in Kansas City now?”

This caught my attention. Lombardi is a former NFL executive who hasn’t been able to get back into the league and has been forced into the Internet world to pass the time. He has some obvious connections, and in fact worked with Pioli many, many years ago; they were both at the Cleveland Browns when Belichick was head coach. I’ve read some of Lombardi’s stuff and it’s been quite thoughtful. But he’s also the guy that was the source for the story about a new contract between the Chiefs and Matt Cassel that slipped out on the first day of the NFL Draft. We learned later that report was not true and now more than two weeks after the draft and there’s still been no announcement of a contract.

Nevertheless, anybody who followed the draft closely knows that the Chiefs fourth-round pick Donald Washington was suspended for two games at the start of his senior season at Ohio State for breaking team rules. That hurt his senior season, cost him a starting job and thus the suspension was probably a major factor in his falling to the fourth round.

But who were these other so-called questionable characters in the Chiefs draft class? Lombardi didn’t bother to identify them or what their problems may be.

He left that duty to Matt Bowen, another writer at the nationalfootballpost. Bowen went up with a Monday post that fleshes out more details about these supposed character issues of the Chiefs draft choices. Who is Matt Bowen? He’s a former NFL player, with seven seasons (2000-06) in the league with five different teams. His website bio says he’s currently working on a Masters degree at DePaul.

Anyway, Bowen writes:

“But, we can speculate on character as it applies to the draft. Yes, I agree that the Chiefs and Pioli shouldn’t be compared with the Bengals when it comes to their current draft classÃ¢â¬âyetÃ¢â¬âbut there are some names in front of me today that at least make me wonder. Our own NFP Draft Expert, Wes Bunting shared his notes with me on four draft picks in KC that have me scratching my head today.”

Rather than waste more bytes on this stuff, you can read what he wrote here, or you can save a lot of time and read my cliff notes that follow:

Washington was suspended for two games at Ohio State for violating team rules.

Sixth-round pick Quinten Lawrence was injury prone and supposedly didn’t work hard in the weight room.

Seventh-round pick Javarris Williams reportedly rubbed people the wrong way, but his coaching staff said he was a good guy.

Seventh-round TE Jake O’Connell supposedly didn’t take to coaching.

Now that’s a real murderer’s row of character problems, wouldn’t you say? No really, that’s it, those are the guys that are supposedly rife with personal problems and have shattered the profile of what Pioli did for so many years with Belichick while building the Patriots.

First of all, is there any truth to these supposed character problems? I called a scout I know in the league. I can’t use his name, and that bothers me, but I think what he had to say is worthwhile, so you the reader can decide what you want to believe.

His team just had a mini-camp and he was already back home. But he unpacked his notes and told me this: “We code players we think have problems, or have shown signs of that in the past. We had Washington in that category because of the suspension. These other guys don’t show up on that issue. But then they wouldn’t for things like being injury prone or rubbing people the wrong way. Hell, Mike Lombardi has been rubbing people the wrong way for a lot of years in the NFL.”

OK, so now I wanted to know who is Wes Bunting? Who is this personnel expert with all this information on these guys? I’ve been covering the NFL for over 30 years now, and while I can’t say that I’ve kept a scoreboard of names and movement in the world of scouting, I have spent plenty of time with the football bird dogs. Wes Bunting was not a name I was familiar with. The scout that shared information had never heard of the guy either.

I looked on the nationalfootballpost website and could not find a bio for this person. Ah, but this is the 21st Century and that means if somebody is alive, you can probably find them on Goggle. I did.

So this website, with former big-time NFL executives writing on a regularly basis, probably has a former NFL scout with a lot of experience as their draft guru right?

Wrong. Wes Bunting is a 22-year old college senior at Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. He will graduate in June with a degree in communications. The sum total of his NFL experience is a summer interning with the Baltimore Ravens.

Bunting is a Mel Kiper wanna be, who sits in his under-graduate apartment and watches tape and does his own scouting reports. Unlike real personnel types, he does not go to the campus; he does not meet with college coaches, trainers, secretaries, weight coaches, or the woman who works at the reception desk of the athletic dormitory. He doesn’t have access to security reports, personality tests, and background checks.

His opinions on a college player’s ability are no better or worse than any other draftnik. For all we know, he might be able to break down a film with the best of them. Good for him that he found an outlet for his work, especially in this economy and especially at his age.

But to quote him as a purveyor of information on the character of players he’s never met is nothing short of ridiculous.

If you want to criticize Pioli for taking picks based more on physical skills and potential than what they produced on the college football field then you can make an argument. But to question the character of these young men because they were supposedly injury prone, rubbed people the wrong way and didn’t take to coaching? You’ve got to be kidding me!

There’s something else at work here. This smoke that went up was not caused by any fire, so that means somebody is trying to start one. I poked around the smoldering pile of poo dropped by the nationalfootballpost and came up with two possibilities.

One, Lombardi is ticked off that his scoop on the Cassel contract got shot down. He ended up looking bad and he may blame Pioli. So here’s a chance to get even, by plastering a little smear on the draft class. Two, Pioli just cleaned house in the Chiefs personnel department and there may be a backlash against those moves within the personnel community. Guys like Bill Kuharich, Chuck Cook and Bruce Lemmerman have been around a long time and they have a lot of friends in the business. Maybe some of those friends don’t feel those guys were treated very well by Pioli. Maybe they are standing up for their buddies. Or maybe it’s an issue that hasn’t reared its head yet.

Whatever the reason, it falls under the category of throwing a handful of you know what against the wall and hoping something sticks. And along the way if a bunch of poo gets splashed on the reputations of a couple of kids coming out of college, hey no big deal according to the nationalfootballpost. They are just reporting what they heard.

I’ll tell you this: it all rubs me the wrong way. If that means I have a character flaw, then include me with the Pioli Four.

SIGNINGS & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE

BEARS – signed TE Michael Gaines (Lions).

COWBOYS - special teams coach Joe DeCamillis was released from a Dallas hospital eight days after suffering a broken neck in the collapse of the Cowboys practice bubble.

JETS - re-signed TE Bubba Franks.

SAINTS – released G Cedric Dockery and OT Sam McNaulty.

SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …

Born on May 12, 1978 in Clearwater, Florida was RB Dee Brown. He played in two seasons (2005-06) with the Chiefs, appearing in 23 games. Brown carried 17 times for 45 yards and caught four passes for 28 yards. He played five seasons with four different teams in his NFL career.

77 Responses to “Tuesday Morning Cup O’Chiefs”

May 12, 2009 - Harold C. says:

Yeah Bob….that’s all ridiculous. Maybe Lombardi is a Jason Whitlock disciple…trying to stir up controversy just to get noticed….and maybe Bowen it his boy wonder. Or maybe they are Donkey fans upset that we got Cassel and they lost Cutler winding up with nothing. Who knows….it’s just dumb.

May 12, 2009 - Rebuttal says:

Lombardi actually does NFL Network shows, which isn’t exactly the same as “being forced into the Internet world.’ And he DID address the Cassel contract rumors saying that a deal is done in principle and expects them to announce by June.

You can’t necessarily take Pioli and Hunt at their word. They said they weren’t going to trade Gonzalez (they did) and then later they said they hadn’t had any talks with the Falcons (when in fact they had).

May 12, 2009 - Teddy B says:

Great article Bob. Since you have nothing else to report, to write about, or to provide insight on, you take other people’s stuff and dissect it. Very original. Please take the time tomorrow to find something someone else said and examine it. None of us really care about football anyway. We just like reading about the media.

May 12, 2009 - Harold C. says:

Rebuttal….it was the same thing during the Peterson years. They would come out and say they weren’t going to do this or that and with-in a week it was done. So what else is new?

May 12, 2009 - Shoe says:

If this college boy blogger doesn’t already understand that the sixth and seventh rounds are where you can occasionally take a risk like what he THINKS the Chiefs did, he’d better find another line of work when it’s time to enter the real world.

May 12, 2009 - anonymous says:

The Author has this one right! I too think that sometimes the Author goes a bit over the top with criticisms of the media, but he is dead on here!

Doesn’t matter if you like Pioli or not, to drag these kids reps through the mud, just to take a cheap shot SUCKS!!! So does Lombardi!

What? Does getting on TV mean this guy is in some way special, beyond approach, or some kind of Saint, that is above petty jealousy?

I don’t think so!

May 12, 2009 - Rip 'em a new one says:

So, questionable content and unfounded rumors have found their way onto the internet. Should we be surprised?

How often has the so-called respected mainstream media been caught up in the speculation game and saw fit to report every aspect of a story, relevant, true, or not? I direct you to the current Favre watch, part II, or is it III? Or more?

Whatever happened to old fashioned journalism basics where reporters were required to have at least two confimred sources before reporting on a story and thus passing it off as fact?

Perhaps it’s ego. Maybe pressure from the suits in the carpeted offices? I still recall a few years back when ESPN’s John Clayton stared into the camera and boldly reported that Al Saunders would be the next Chief’s head coach following DV. Yet another example of the modern media’s quest to be first and not caring about being right.

May 12, 2009 - Scott says:

Just a bunch of crap, I’d say…to create a story where there is none. The bad thing is, some people can’t recognize BS from the truth.

And Rebuttal…they never said they weren’t going to trade Tony G. They said they would not “SEEK” a trade. Also, denying you’ve “had talks” with a team beofre the deal is actually done is pretty much standard procecure throughout the sports world. To imply that only Pioli would do that is insane.

May 12, 2009 - SG says:

“I’ll tell you this: it all rubs me the wrong way. If that means I have a character flaw, then include me with the Pioli Four.”

Ahh…finally an opportunity to stir up some controversy – a basis for tying Bob to the Pioli Four…we always wondered…now we know…lol

Thanks Bob for continuing to telling us about all things Chief-y while we wait for our team’s season to start. Keep up the good work.

May 12, 2009 - ILChiefsFan says:

That’s one of the problems with blogs, isn’t it? Every day they’ve got to figure out some way to fill space, regardless of whether or not they’ve got something to say. The NFP does a good job, but there is a lot of fluff and occasional stupidity.

Good catch on Wes Bunting, though. I’ve read a lot of his draft stuff, but never caught on to his background. I certainly see his assessments in a different light now.

May 12, 2009 - Mike says:

Good article, Bob. Thanks for your perspective on this.

Rebuttal – Hunt and Pioli said they would need “seek” a trade for Gonzo. Atlanta came to them with an offer they couldn’t refuse. I don’t think you pass a two for a 33 year old TE, regardless if that TE is Tony Gonzalez or not.

May 12, 2009 - True Red & Gold says:

Bob, you know that all we read (and take for truth) is what you write here on your blog. Keep up the good work!

May 12, 2009 - Hemi7382 says:

Great article, Bob.

I remember reading an article from Peter King (Sports Illistrated) about that “Cassel Signing”. He checked his own sources as well, which are usually good ones I might add, and found them to be false.

Lombardi is trying to get ahead in todays world of journalism. It’s saturated right now due to the rise of the internet. It is sad, however, that reliable journalists, like yourself and Peter King, have to continuously police the other guys out there because they don’t hold themselves accountable to their actions of poor reporting.

I don’t think you can just read anything anymore without looking who wrote or said it. Over time you can see who’s consistantly reliable and who isn’t. The other thing I always look for is when that reporter/journalist makes a mistake they own up to it.

I won’t list everyone I read or watch, but I will say when Lombardi speaks or writes I usually DON’T pay attention.

May 12, 2009 - Steve O. says:

Nice work, Bob. If you’re going to post your analysis on the web and claim to be an expert, your credentials and experience are fair game. Heard the Border Patrol on 810 WHB this a.m. deservedly applaud this post.

May 12, 2009 - Rin Tin Tin says:

Is Pioli/other NFL GMs d****d if they do & d****d if they don’t? Maybe, maybe not.

It’s hard to find any Saints in this modern world circa 2009 – in fact, being one hasn’t helped New Orleans win anything for 42 football summers now.

Then too there is the aspect of the violent take no prisoners nature on the field & the hoped for gentle, law abiding countenance off.

There were football bad boys 50 years ago too and those who lived harder than not (Bobby Layne), or bended the rules (Paul Hornung, Alex Karras.) Yet they were the exceptions, not the rule.

Today, it appears there are no rules or they are catch as catch can…”if it doesn’t fit then you must acquit” in a manner of pretzel logic.

For those who would claim that being young and/or malleable in today’s world is ‘different’ than it was decades ago, I would say character never goes out of style. Be a virtuoso, be mercurial – yes – be a character- but be responsible…know when to say when. Doesn’t apply today? BS. Clap on – clap off.

French/Romanian aphorist EM Cioran wasn’t talking about NFL player acquisition but he might as well have been when he opined – “what to do & where to go? Do nothing & go nowhere, easy enough.”

Become an opera fan, tho even there recently one patron punched & then attempted to throw another off the balcony.

I have always personally believed that things do not get better with time (people and the game of football included), they merely change…and not often if e’er for the better.

What we gain on the one we give back in multiples the another.

Today’s moral compass has been brought to you courtesy the perfect & odor-free world of me.

May 12, 2009 - anonymous says:

jt,
“Well” is either used as in water “well” or “well” maybe or I feel “well”

“Will” used as “will” do, or I have the “will” or “will” you please spell and use these words correctly? or I’m leaving you outta my “will”

Thanks!

I “will” refrain from calling you a dumb ass!

May 12, 2009 - burnsomatic says:

what the hell is rin tin tin talking about. Do you know anything. Good read bob. Thanks

May 12, 2009 - Harold C. says:

jt…..this site is for Bob’s insightful articles about the Chiefs. The blogging is extra. If you really want to move on because you don’t like what a few bloggers are saying then you must only be coming here for the blogging. It seems a little oversensitive on your part. Really….what is the big deal? Don’t read the blogging if you can’t deal with it.

May 12, 2009 - Scott says:

burnsomatic says:
“what the hell is rin tin tin talking about.”

You should only worry if you CAN understand.

May 12, 2009 - person with sense says:

I never read rin tin tin’s long, boring, pointless drivel. Look at all the time that saves me! That’s several minutes gained that I can use to:

Have a cup of coffee
Read the latest headlines
Shave
Talk with the spouse/kids
Or pretty much anything else that isn’t a complete waste of time.

Try it out, you’ll like it!

May 12, 2009 - Double A says:

Excellent work, Bob!

The attack on these young football players by Lombardi, Bowan and Wes Bunting was pathetic, ignorant and absurd.

Thank you for taking them on.

May 12, 2009 - Harold C. says:

LOL…Scott.

I tried to read some of Rin’s stuff….and somewhere in the middle I thought…”why in the world am I wasting my time trying to understand this”…so I stopped. I’m ashamed I read that far.

May 12, 2009 - Scott says:

It’s okay, Harold. Just remember, the first step is admitting that you have a problem…

May 12, 2009 - Petey says:

I’m sure it’s been mentioned previously, but I wonder if the Cassel contract extension was planted as a ‘leak’ to see if anyone in the media would get it. Wouldn’t surprise me if Pioli ‘told’ this to one or two people to see if he could trust them and when Lombardi talked about it, it was known.

I don’t know, maybe just a conspiracy theory, but Lombardi did seem to be pretty specific about the terms.

May 12, 2009 - Rebuttal says:

@Scott

Here is the exact quote from the Teicher article:

“Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said Monday during a break at the NFL meetings that the Chiefs had decided to hold on to Gonzalez, their longtime Pro Bowl tight end.”

I totally disagree with Pioli avoiding the media. He seems to be about as chatty a teenage girl. At his press conferences he talks up a storm. And seems to care very much about what people say and write about him and job he is doing, otherwise he would be just like Mr. Bill, stone faced and looking as if big bad dentist is coming. Only difference is that he wouldn’t have to ask Pioli to open wide.

May 12, 2009 - Scott says:

Rebuttal says:
“I don’t know where you got the “seek”Â part.”

From 3/25:

“We will certainly not SEEK a trade for Tony,” Hunt said Monday during a break at the NFL meetings in California.

You’re quoting Teicher. I’m quoting Hunt.

May 12, 2009 - Rin Tin Tin says:

burnsomatic says:

“what the hell is rin tin tin talking about.”

- grim realization…yours.

Put another, to quote my friend Shakey William reference thy ‘unsuccessful’ foray into raison “(burn) he has not so much brain as ear-wax.”

“Do you know anything.”

- yes, even more: note another overt shortcoming yours: a lack of ? – now that you’ve found him, ne’er let him go. Which is to say – “apply ‘self Mysterian.”

Harold C. says:

“I tried to read some of Rin’s stuff”

- well, at least you tried…many are called but few are chosen.

“I’m ashamed I read that far.”

- Harry, you started out so well in your advise to jt…then, succumbed to the same ill-will… lo siento.

And now a message to all (some more than others, and you know who you are):

An adaptation mine (more so than a parody) of Nat King Cole’s wondrous “The Christmas Song”

Green eyes roasting on an open forum
Folks angst nipping at Rin’s toes…
Have woodies would use them if but could they
“It’s stuck!” cry they “HELP!” key of C

Cries out unto thee from corner basement mom’s do they – “what is this ‘glow’ come over we?”
Yellow tint of their skin – jaundiced be
More red cells lost than brain cells we.

We know more Rin is on the way, with more insightful blogging sure to ruin our day,
when readers this take pause their laughter they will say ‘no better argument euthanize, than we

And so we offer cautionary tale
Observe IQ ours ninety-two,
Don’t be like we – concentrate – DON’T BE A TOOL!
Play it cool stay, in school…

Thank you, thank you very much…uh huh-huh.

May 12, 2009 - Rin Tin Tin says:

You want a fresh one? A-l-r-i-g-h-t-y then!

person with sense says:

“I never read rin tin tin’s long, boring, pointless drivel.”

- How ‘long’ was it exactly?

If ‘person with’ aka ‘pw’ (really?) claimed said (wink wink) while in Las Vegas, he’d have been thrown out for being a card counter- whether his “I’ll be here all week folks” was up yet or not.

May 12, 2009 - Harold C. says:

…..and on it goes…….

May 12, 2009 - Scott says:

Harold…

It’s kinda’ like driving by a bad accident, huh? You know you shouldn’t look…but you do anyway. And then you’re sorry you did.

May 12, 2009 - Rin Tin Tin says:

Harold C, et al, fighting their feelings nee lost in the throes of denial:

Q: What is the difference between Rin Tin Tin and ‘searchme’piolee/’checkpoint’hailee?

A: Rin’s a guilty pleasure…search & check are just guilty, as evidenced.

May 12, 2009 - SG says:

Since the non-sensical has overtaken the discussion today, how about something substantive?

Scott-man – who do you think will be the biggest disappointment for this team on offense…on defense?

May 12, 2009 - SG says:

Rin, what about an intelligible answer to this intelligent question…who do you see out there in free agency that KC might actually pick up that will actually make the team better?

May 12, 2009 - Scott says:

SG,

On offense…if he’s “the man”, I’d say LJ. I think he’s done…and will not be effective at all. That is, if he’s still on the team come opening day. Of all the needs of the team, I’m most worried about our running game.

Defense? Not that I will necessarily think so, but…I think Tyson Jackson will be viewed that way by many. I think he’ll be a solid player, but not “flashy”…and will thus be viewed as a disappointment by many, for the simple fact that he was the #3 pick.

May 12, 2009 - SG says:

Scott, interesting thoughts.

On offense, I would choose Dwayne Bowe – as I anticipate the pass protection will be weak enough Cassel won’t have time to throw it to DBowe accurately.

On defense, initially I thought it would be one of the two “old guys,” Vrabel or Zach Thomas. Now I’m leaning toward Derrick Johnson.

May 12, 2009 - Scott says:

SG,

That’s kinda’ funny. I think Bowe is going to step it up this year. He won’t have a TE to share opportunities with, that’s for sure. Plus, I’m hoping Engram can teach him a few things. And Haley, too. I look for DBowe to have a great year.

I guess that’s why I worry about our running game so much. If you can’t run the ball…then that pretty much takes the guesswork out of what you’re going to do on Offense (for opposing D’s). No running game…no effective passing game.

May 12, 2009 - Harold C. says:

LJ hasn’t been good for years….so will he be that big of a disappointment….since he already is? How about people that will excel…who do you see doing that? Anyone. I admit….it’s easier to see the negative. I’m hoping for surprises on a overall team basis…because I hope the coaching is improved….and hopefully it will translate onto the field.

May 12, 2009 - SG says:

Harold C,

I think one of our place kickers will suddenly become one of the best in the league due to their new special teams coach.

May 12, 2009 - Scott says:

Harold,

I think it WILL translate to the field. Our guys have been out of shape these last couple of years…and it showed. I don’t see that happeneing under Haley. We will also have some veteran leadership this year, on the field and off. I think that will help a lot.

As far as people who will excel? I know some expect him to…but I’d say Cassel. I think he’ll take over as a leader on Offense. Something we haven’t had since Trent Green got knocked out (literally). Your QB absolutely HAS to be your leader. And I think Cassel will be that.

May 12, 2009 - SG says:

Another one who could surprise would be Londen Fryer – who no doubt will make a big play or two on special teams if nothing else.

May 12, 2009 - tm1946 says:

I see special teams getting much better with the new additions. Defense had better be tougher this year, it is likely more than 30% of the total salary will be committed to untried/unsuccessful players. Lastly no one to pick up the production of Tony G but a strong running game will reduce the need for TD, I guess. Bowe will have to really shine in 09.

May 12, 2009 - SG says:

Agreed in part tm1946. Special teams will be improved enough that we’ll take at least 2 more games that last year we lost by less than 6. With this roster, I project 5 wins this year.

(Through the Romper Room Magic Mirror) “I can see Bob, and Harold C and you too SG! plus all of you boys and girls out there!

“in”

- Kansas, in Missouri, and many other parts twixt & tween!

“free agency that”

- no thank you, I prefer a rookie draft choice or a second year Chief, that.

“KC might actually pick up”

- doubtful…Herm Edwards could have done things the same way as ‘search’ & ‘check’ are, but with Clark Hunt’s blessing (LOL) he went another way, that of youth. Herm’s Chiefs could have won more games last season & as you know/should have, shy some of the worst football luck seen round these parts in many years (6 – 7 wins possibly left on the table last season.) Herm stuck with the all out youth program, and without question ‘search’ & ‘check’ will be the beneficiary via W’s.

So now, Herm’s youth has that year of experience – thanks Herm – and, with copious doses football relics thrown in names of Thomas, Vrabel, Engram, Goff & Methusaleh (he’ll be signed just in time for OTA’s), those 6-7 wins should be expected at minimum. Yet, if that is all piolee & hailee are good for nee can accomplish I say they shouldn’t have been hired in the first place.

Big resumes? This is the Show Me state ‘search’, you too ‘check.’ Put up or…leave.

Now then, as far as what free agents could help the Chiefs? Many. Alas they were already bought up by other NFL teams.

Will more come free as we traverse summer & fall? Probably. Will they help? Perhaps for purposes of getting to that 6-7 win plateau…nothing more.

Herm had the right idea…he just wasn’t given sufficient time after only starting the needed full rebuild in 2009.

They say most comedians are unhappy…Rin didn’t become a comic until ‘search’ & ‘check’ arrived.

My days as a comedian will end come 2010, but until then…heh heh heh…enjoy my blogs!

May 12, 2009 - ED says:

I agree Bob. Thats why I hardly ever read crap like that. ITs way to early to question college kids character they do need time to grow up as men.

May 12, 2009 - burnsomatic says:

I see flowers making a big impact is second year. What do you guys think of bradely. Is he going to be any good in this new offense. And to you rin, you make every one of us dumber when we read your blogs. You owe me about 5 min of my life back i wasted on your stupid blogs.

Thanks for the article on NFP, Bob. My first thought after reading Bunting’s draft stuff: Who is this idiot? In my opinion, the Post is just a shade above Warpaint Illustrated and Pro Football Talk when it comes to NFL insight. I glance at them because I look at everything I can on football, but rarely find value there. Lombardi seems like an ok guy, but I wonder why he’s not back in the league. I think he can do better, and may yet in time. Has his site been around that long?
Right now, I’m thinking KC goes 9-7 in 2009. Split with San Diego and Denver, sweep Oakland. Beat Buffalo, Cleveland and Cinci. Upset Cowboys at home, and Ravens on the road opening weekend.
Anything can happen on opening day, and the Cowboys will be too confused by the idea of playing a team from Dallas. Just kidding…sort of. I do think 9-7 right now.

May 12, 2009 - Chalmers43 says:

Rin,

I enjoy your posts, but then again, I enjoy the writing of the great playwrights and classic novelists. I’m not comparing your writing to the classics in merit but more in style. Your style is different and interesting. I don’t agree with many of your opinions. I hope you’ll continue to ignore the 92′s. Scratch that, I know you will.

May 12, 2009 - Rin Tin Tin says:

“burnsomatic says”

- not much – per the usual – but as he’s here (for now)…

“rin”

- yes, what is it now?

“you make”

- I know, Rin makes you feel like a natural woman…

“every one of us”

- that explains all the cackling in & around this particular thread…a ‘bunch’ of gabby old women, as you affirm.

“dumber when”

- whenever you exhale, evidence to date.

“we read your blogs.”

- thank you Captain Obvious, that everyone does is no secret.

“You owe me”

- another kick in the teeth…OK, you’re done on this side – turn the other cheek.

“about”

- face, correct.

“5 min of my life”

- is as a ‘Lost Weekend’ be to Ray Miland.

“back”

- oh, you want me to get a running start at you this salvo…ok.

“i wasted”

- yes…you do sound totaled, man aft Miland.

“on your stupid blogs.”

- on – up & onward…tally ho!

Well ‘burnt’, that ought tio hold you for awhile. I’m gonna go make & sandwich & get a soft drink. Now, you think up something witty & get back to me. ‘Kay? Okay.

“but then again, I enjoy the writing of the great playwrights and classic novelists.”

- as I. Fact is, Rin is equal proponent EM Cioran and Nietzsche, Shakespeare, and Manson, Charles.
Many others I imbibe, but, only aforementioned do I reserve a place upon a higher/highest pedestal.

“I’m not comparing your writing to the classics in merit but more in style.”

- all we great essayists have a unique to our own brilliance style; merit is a matter personal bias.

“Your style is different and interesting.”

- yes…

“I don’t agree with many of your opinions.”

- that is unimportant, because I do.

“I hope you’ll continue to ignore the 92′s.”

- talent does as it can, mine genius as it must.

“Scratch that, I know you will.”

- nice…spot on, as twere.

May 12, 2009 - burnsomatic says:

This is a football website, why do you waste your time my time bobs time by being on it every day. Do you know anything about football. Do us all a favor and go back to playing world of warcraft, or what ever it is that you do

who here actually reads anything that doggie poo posts? She lost what little credibility she had with the ‘Herm’s the man schtik.’

May 12, 2009 - Harold C. says:

findthedr…

I never make it through even half of what this person posts. Most times I quit after the first sentence because why read what is not legible. I didn’t even make it through the posts where he addressed me directly. I really have no idea what he said….and that is true for the stuff I actually wasted an effort trying to read too. All it takes is a couple of rolls of the scroll wheel and I’m back to posts worth reading. So mark me down as a non-reader on Rin’s babbling.

May 12, 2009 - Harold C. says:

Of course Rin (or should I say “Anonymous”) has got his fan club of one now (Chalmers43) so he will never go away. Of course I would not be a bit surprised if Chalmers43 is actually Rin trying to make himself look popular….LOL. See Rin….if you would just write like Chalmers43 all the time then we would read what you write. Somehow though….I think you will stick to your style that begs to be ignored….skipped….overlooked….avoided.

- Central Standard Time/CST would be an educated guess as he blogs from the Kansas City area.

“by being on it every day.”

- no Falstaff – by virtue it being standard time in the 6th time zone west of Greenwich, reckoned at the 90th meridian.

“Do you know anything about football.”

- there’s that missing ? again; what would you like to know, football widow?

“Do us all a favor”

- to smite thee would not be sport; so instead, confronted with your knack the size of a comma running across my desk…I allow you amuse me.

My first reaction was charitable – to squash you – instead, I Rin have decided to abandon thee to your panic: what use liberating you?

“and”

- top it off by giving you another wedgie & kick in the teeth, of course. Gird thy loins now as I make another sortie, one more mess of you.

“go back to playing”

- now doth you plead for mercy!

“world of warcraft”

- thank you no…most gods throw dice, but I as Fate play chess, and you find out too late that Rin has been playing with two queens all along.

“or what ever it is that you do.”

- just ‘you’ at this moment knave, just you.

May 12, 2009 - Rin Tin Tin says:

O-n-e m-o-r-e t-i-m-e by popular request!

“Green eyes roasting on an open forum
Folks angst nipping at Rin’s toes…
Have woodies would use them if but could they
“It’s stuck!”Â cry they “HELP!”Â key of C

Cries out unto thee from corner basement mom’s do they – “what is this “Ëglow’ come over we?”Â
Yellow tint of their skin – jaundiced be
More red cells lost than brain cells we.

We know more Rin is on the way, with more insightful blogging sure to ruin our day,
when readers this take pause their laughter they will say “Ëno better argument euthanize, than we

And so we offer cautionary tale
Observe IQ ours ninety-two,
Don’t be like we – concentrate – DON’T BE A TOOL!
Play it cool stay, in school.”

May 12, 2009 - Scott says:

Rin has a wealth of football knowledge. It peeks out every now and then.

Too bad he wastes most of his time posting nonsensical bullsh*t…instead of saying something intelligent.

It’s kinda’ hard to make a point when you look like a damn fool idiot.

Therefore…I CHALLENGE you, Rin. Cut the bull…and post for real. Make your points, and back them up with something real. Got the balls to use your REAL name? Come on, dude…I DARE you.

Bring it on…

May 12, 2009 - Chalmers43 (aka pill41) says:

I am not the canine. I certainly don’t believe that “Herm’s the man.” However, I read several message boards and his posts (sans Herm) are unique, creative, and original. I’ll continue to enjoy them until something news or conversation-worthy actually happens. I wouldn’t be openly praising him if it weren’t for the martyrdom of man’s best friend presently occurring. Call me old-fashioned, but I’ve always been one to root for the underdog.

“What other people do we always feel we could do better. Unfortunately we do not have the same feeling about what we ourselves do.” – E.M. Cioran

May 12, 2009 - Mark says:

That article was FULL of inaccuracies. When NE drafted Woolfork, he was considered a fat, out of shape, underachiever who didn’t come close to his potential at THE U. He was a 1st round NE draft choice, and they were right, while the draftnicks who downgraded him because of his “character” were wrong. NE has signed and drafted plenty of questionable “character” guys over the years, like anyone else. Not sure where the whole Pioli only wants Saints stuff got started? He wants guys who are smart and love football and sometimes those guys aren’t Saints. Moss, Dillon, Wolfork, Rodney, etc. He cut Merritt because he was STUPID, and probably can’t play. But if had a brain and could play, I doubt getting busted for Pot would have caused his release. NE just drafted WR Tate in the draft after he was positive for Pot at the combine.
In the Chiefs case, Washington is the only one who can be legitamately questioned about “character”, whatever that actually means, and Haley several times addressed the issue fully, saying they did extensive, comprehensive homework on Washington.
A RB who WANTS to play is a character problem????? More like fits the Pioli/Haley mantra of loving football. I guess a good character is someone who is content to sit on a bench at a bigger school, rather than get right in and play at a smaller one?? Lawrence broke his ankle, that’s why he missed the rest of the season, and he did very well with the weightlifting at his workouts. NOW I’m excited by the 7th round TE O’Connell. A 4.5 40 TE!!!! That Pioli specifically traded up for, who didn’t attend the combine(so I’ve heard)!!! That’s what the 7th round is for, a guy with tremendous phycical tools who didn’t produce, but maybe will grow up in the NFL with superior coaching and discipline. I don’t see a character flaw there, maybe just some immaturity, but Pioli obviously had some inside info on this guy and traded up to get him. Interesting that we signed the other TE from Miami, OH as an UDFA also.
I think that Bowen article was a bigger reach than any 1st round draft choice this year, even Oakland’s.

May 12, 2009 - colby says:

Guys, all you have to do is not respond to anything the fool says. ANYTHING! He’s posted a zillion times because you’re giving him ammunition. He’ll get bored if no one pays attention. He’ll go back to doing what he does best, plagiarize a few old Chiefs programs/media guides/encyclopedias. I stopped reading his posts immediately once I stumbled onto this. I happened to have read an old Chiefs guide from the late 80s and the next day, Rin posted the same. 99% word for word.

And also, Cioran was a Nazi. Probably why Rin’s racist ass likes him so much.

May 12, 2009 - colby says:

Nice take Mark. I agree with you 100%. That was certainly a long post worth reading!

“Alone – even doing nothing – you do not waste your time. You do almost always in company. No encounter with self can be altogether sterile: Something necessarily emerges even if only the hope of some day meeting yourself again.”

I suspect the problem some might have with Rin is He does not pursue inclusion or accept invitation into the ‘just one of the boys’ lock-step Chiefs fiefdom they aspire to. Rin works alone and sans a net, certain that the ‘some’ protest too much; they’re so cute when they get all hot & bothered; alas, the relief they seek is not forthcoming.

Back to Cioran, and drawing a parallel with the long-suffering Chiefs fans, the following which must be legitimately child the mind Cioran, and premonition Michel de Nostredame/Nostradamus:

“To live in expectation, to count on the future: we are so accustomed to it that we have conceived the idea of immortality (Superbowl Championship) only out of a need to wait out eternity.”

And this gem, same: “Having always lived in fear of being surprised by the worst, I have tried in every circumstance to get a head start, flinging myself into misfortune long before it occurred.”

Whether anatomizing the effect ‘search’ & ‘check’ to date, or, wielding a narrative sword that has ne’er seen a scabbard, comport my style to cheer this blog mob, any/all? Not in a million!

May 13, 2009 - Harold C. says:

I read exactly 5 posts since I last posted here.
colby….I agree with you.

May 13, 2009 - Harold C. says:

I bet you this….nobody reads rin’s posts anymore. The only people reading rin’s posts are people that have never read one before (and they will stop after one attempt) and the fake people rin posts as trying to make it look like people read his posts. I bet Bob even stopped reading his posts. I have no doubt this is all true.

May 13, 2009 - Justin D says:

Teddy B is an idiot. Teddy do you want Bob to cause controversy so he wold have something to report on? The new administration is tight lipped and EVERYONE is looking for content. This site is paid by advertisers based on readership. Dissecting something written about the Chiefs is CLEARLY within the scope of the sites content. Go somewhere else and read Fatlock.

May 13, 2009 - SG says:

“Shanahan in 2010!”Â

Something very Raider/Donkey-esque about that Mantra.

“Methusaleh”

Based on what we saw on the field last year – even at 900 years old that guy would have probably qualified to play on that roster (except for that whole age thing).

Cutting through your “comedy,” I noticed you didn’t truly answer the original question. Something very Herm-esque about that (which I suspect will be received as a compliment).

May 13, 2009 - Rin Tin Tin says:

He’s a big dumb animal ain’t he folks – no not him, the other one(s)…

Game, set, match…Rin!

May 13, 2009 - SG says:

“…after only starting the needed full rebuild in 2009.”

Your statement is accurate – the full rebuild beginning with CP’s resignation and Herm’s dismissal was both needed and full.

- no no no, don’t dangle your particples or Rin will just have to lop them off- AGAIN. You fail to place the emphasis the proper split –

to wit, like this: “Shanahan in 20-10!”

For future reference, do make a note of it.

“I noticed you didn’t truly answer the original question.”

- truly, can’t get anythin’ past you…huh. I note you have not missed a beat, nor a single vowel, letter or consonant mine, e’en… ein regelmÃÂ¤ÃÅ¸iger Leser; willkommen.

“Something very Herm-esque”

- oh goody, I love Jeopardy questions!

Alex: “Answer – Excellent coaching”.

“I suspect”

- you are correct!

May 13, 2009 - 1230 says:

Great observations, Bob. This is what we count on when we come to your site. Regardless of the sleezebags out there pretending they are really reporters or journalists, you are the real deal and thanks for keeping this site so current.